Rotary cutterbar housing modules having angled sides

Abstract

A rotary cutterbar housing is constructed of a plurality of modules mounted in side-to-side relationship with the opposite sides of each module being planar and being secured in face-to-face engagement. A spur gear train is located within the housing and includes at least one gear in each module which is meshed with a spur gear of an adjacent module so that portions of the teeth of the spur gear associated with one of the modules extends a short distance into the other module, and vice-versa. The opposite sides of the modules are parallel to each other and are inclined relative to vertical such that a module between two other modules can be unbolted from them and removed without requiring the other modules to be moved in order to provide clearance for the protruding portions of the gear teeth.

We claim: 
     
       1. In an elongate rotary cutterbar gear housing constructed of a plurality of side-to-side connected modules and including a first module located between second and third modules, each module having parallel, planar sides and the gear housing containing gearing including at least a first pair of idler gears mounted in said first housing and meshed with each other and respectively with second and third idler gears respectively mounted in said second and third modules, the meshed first pair of idler gears of said first module and the respective second and third idler gears of the second and third modules having respective pitch circles that are tangent to a line that is located in respective planes of interfaces of engaged sides of said second and third modules with opposite sides of said first module, whereby the teeth of said first pair of idler gears respectively extend into the second and third modules, and the teeth of each of said second and third idler gears extend into the first module, the improvement comprising: said planar sides of each module being angled from the vertical a distance sufficient for allowing said first module to be moved vertically away from said second and third modules. 
     
     
       2. The gear housing defined in claim 1 wherein said planar sides make an angle in the range of from about 20 to 40 degrees relative to vertical. 
     
     
       3. A module adapted for forming part of an elongate gear housing of a disc mower including a series of like modules bolted together in side-by-side relationship with each other, comprising: a flat tubular structure having mounting areas designed for receiving a pair of spur-type idler gears located inside the structure, with the gears having teeth projecting slightly beyond opposite planar sides of said structure; said opposite planar sides being parallel to each other and being angled relative to vertical such that, when a series of the modules are bolted together to form a gear housing, modules in the middle of the housing can be removed without removing any of the other modules. 
     
     
       4. The module as set forth in claim 3 wherein said planar sides make an angle in the range of from about 20 to 40 degrees relative to vertical.